Prison Ministries

Posts Tagged ‘Psalm 73’

Read 1 Peter 5:5-11, Psalm 73
Our Worst Enemy

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

“I wouldn’t wish this even on my worst enemy” is a familiar saying to many. “He’s his own worst enemy” is a much more common and much truer statement.

When we think of enemies, we automatically start thinking about people we have been or are in conflict with, people who have harmed or offended us in some way, or people who we perceive to be evil. During war, the enemy is the soldiers and forces of the opposing country or faction. Read the rest of this entry »

Read Ephesians 5, Psalm 73
Who Do You Look Up To?

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

It is good to have people to look up to especially when they are good examples of being sermons in shoes that we can learn from and try to emulate. We thrive on encouragement we receive from others.

If we look, we can see Jesus all around us, living in and through those He has called into a personal abiding relationship of faith.

The more important question is can people look up to us? Are we bearing the fruit of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22)? Can others see Jesus living in us?

It is a sad thing indeed when those who claim the name of Christ cause people to look down on Him because they shame His name by hypocrisy, pride, greed, envy, or other moral melt downs.

We are called to be building blocks instead of stumbling blocks. We are to be beacons of light in a dark and sinful world.

We all too often fall into the trap of looking down on others as a means of making ourselves look better. How much better it is to make ourselves look better by looking up to others who are reflecting the love of Christ in the way they are living their lives.

When we look up to Jesus we will find the perfect example worth imitating. When we compare ourselves to Him, we will find how short we fall of His glory and will never again seek the hypocritical glory of looking down on others.

Father, help me to look up to You, the perfect example I should be imitating in every area of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Read Hebrews 13, Psalm 73

The Gong Show

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.” Lamentations 3:22 NLT

There was a short-lived TV show in the 70’s where contestants would be allowed to perform until getting “gonged”and cut off at anytime.

Most of the contestants were pretty terrible and deserved to get the gong, but it was actually kind of cruel to try to entertain us at the expense of the inept performances of others. Read the rest of this entry »